Female employment rate in India
India: Female employment rate was 32.5% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Female employment rate in India, 1994–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
India recorded 32.5% for female employment rate in 2025.
The figure is down 1.4% on the previous year and up 24.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female employment rate in India peaked at 35.6% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 19.1%, in 2018.
India ranks 151st of 172 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 13 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 30.3% | 30.3% | 30.3% | 1 |
| 2000s | 32.8% | 30.0% | 35.6% | 2 |
| 2010s | 23.9% | 19.1% | 27.8% | 4 |
| 2020s | 29.4% | 24.4% | 33.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near India
- 148 Puerto Rico 33.3% compare
- 149 Marshall Islands 33.1% compare
- 150 South Africa 32.6% compare
- 152 Tuvalu 32.3% compare
- 153 Saudi Arabia 32.2% compare
- 154 Guyana 32.2% compare
More work & labour data for India
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 55.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 77.6% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 41.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 32.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 59.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 81.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 34.9% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female employment rate in India?
- Female employment rate in India was 32.5% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female employment rate recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 35.6% in 2005.
- What is the lowest female employment rate recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 19.1% in 2018.
- How does India rank for female employment rate?
- India ranks 151st out of 172 countries with data for 2025.
- Is female employment rate rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 24.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this India data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Female employment rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the female working-age population who are employed. Figures refer to national estimates and may not be fully comparable across countries.